Honda and Nissan are agreeing to share and jointly develop software used in their vehicles, with the first cars planned for release starting in fiscal 2029. The two automakers sign a joint development agreement covering electronic control units, an in-vehicle operating system, middleware, and vehicle control software. The deal is intended to cover both development and shared use of key software components.
The agreement comes after a previously discussed merger between the two companies fails to proceed, including disagreements over control. Sources describe the new cooperation as a shift away from consolidation toward collaboration in software and vehicle computing. Quartz emphasizes the joint development of electronic control units and vehicle software for the fiscal 2029 timeframe, while The Next Web adds details on the layers of the software stack—such as operating system and middleware—covered by the agreement. Both accounts align on the scope and timing of the planned rollout.
